Germany has unveiled the design of its new electronic identity card, which will start to be issued from November 2010. The credit-card sized eID is intended to ease the citizens’ transactions with government and businesses and to increase security as well as to enhance public confidence in electronic services.

The front side has the image of the federal eagle, with the Brandenburg Gate depicted on the reverse. The card contains numerous security features and the holder’s details stored digitally. It can also support a digital signature. Both features will allow card holders to complete commercial online transactions as well as official business with government offices.

Additionally, vending machines will support the use of the new ID card, mainly for age identification purposes, for example when purchasing cigarettes.

Great emphasis will be put on privacy, data security and the citizens’ ability to self-determine the extent of access to their personal data. All information and transactions will be securely protected by means of internationally-recognised and established encryption techniques.

An access system based on authorisation certificates issued by the state regulates who can access which identity data stored on the card. The ID card holder keeps full control as to what information will be sent over the Internet to relevant service providers, by authorising access to selected data categories and by using a six-digit PIN number.

Access to particularly sensitive information, such as the digital photograph or the fingerprints, is available only to the explicitly competent authorities. In addition, the ID card must be presented physically in order to prevent unnoticed access. In any case, biometric data cannot be transferred to any commercial service providers or via the Internet.

For more information (in German), click here.

A version of this article originally appeared on the European Commission’s ePractice website.